Actually, it staggered into life three days ago, but I forgot to post anything about it. Bit of a mixed bag in terms of production; I was well ahead of the curve with the writing, finishing the first draft before #4 was even published. Getting a cover together proved more problematical, with two artists falling through. I suppose I’ve been a bit spoilt previously with the art always going swimmingly, so I was rather caught by the lee. Happily, I then asked the excellent Terry Wiley if he could fill in at shortish notice, and he agreed, bless him. I’d been planning on asking him to do a cover later in the year, so I’ll have to think of somebody else for that gig now, but needs must and all that.

After the first four covers showed each member of the squad in isolation, I thought it would be nice to show them as a team. Rather than go for the traditional group shot, I got to thinking about Soviet posters extolling the powers of unity, and asked Terry to do something like that. I think it came out very well.

Goon Squad Unity! by Terry Wiley

I’m especially fond of Mr Tcho-Tcho, the soft toy panda on Nadiya’s shoulder, who is also looking clear-eyed into a future of collectivised crime-fighting. You can buy GOON SQUAD #5 in mobi and epub forms here, and back issues here. I’d obviously appreciate it greatly if you did.

If you don’t know Terry’s work, by the way, you’ve been missing out. Here’s a thing Forbidden Planet published about him a few years ago. He’s a vastly underrated creator, and a lovely bloke. You’re truly doing yourself a favour by checking him out.

I’m currently heavily engaged in writing a new project that I can’t talk about at present, and it’s slowing down work on side projects such as GOON SQUAD. The Summer Special’s first draft is almost finished, however, so it will see publication in June as planned. This, in case you haven’t read about it elsewhere, is an anthology of four short GOON SQUAD stories, plus an introductory essay on their world and the current team members, all for the bargain price of nowt, nothing, nada. FREE! In fact, what the hell, might as well give the story listing now. It might change yet, but that’s pretty unlikely.

Meet the GOON SQUAD
“Red Wolf, Red Wolf, Does Whatever a Red Wolf Can”
“Changes”
“No-No Dojo”
“A Tale of Terror”

I’ll try to remember to do a post on that when it goes live, as opposed to three days later.